President Spyros Capralos led a high-level European Olympic Committees (EOC) delegation to Istanbul for productive meetings with Turkish officials regarding preparations for the 2027 European Games, which will mark the fourth edition of the event.
President Capralos was joined by EOC Secretary General Carlo Mornati, Istanbul 2027 Coordination Commission Chair and Executive Committee member Mihai Covaliu, Executive Committee member Hasan Arat, Advisor to the President Raffaele Pagnozzi and CEO Dr Jan Lehman during the constructive and positive discussions.
The delegation met with Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Deputy Minister Hamza Yerlikaya, General Director of Sports Services Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır and Turkish National Olympic Committee President Ahmet Gülüm, as well as other representatives from the Ministry and the TMOK.
The discussions covered critical aspects of preparation for Istanbul 2027, with both sides demonstrating strong commitment to delivering a memorable fourth edition of Europe’s premier multisport event, providing excellent conditions for the athletes. The strong support for sport and athletes from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was also emphasized, highlighting how Türkiye has become a true sporting nation.
President Capralos noted Türkiye’s long-standing reputation as a premier destination for international competitions and that their extensive experience will allow for a world class fourth edition of the European Games.
Minister assured the delegation that Istanbul’s wealth of experience hosting major international events would be fully leveraged for the European Games, stating Istanbul is a strong candidate for the 2036 Olympics and that Türkiye is steadily moving toward hosting the Games.
The meetings reinforced the excellent partnership between the EOC and its Turkish counterparts, with both parties expressing excitement about continuing their collaboration.
The successful meetings concluded with renewed confidence in delivering an exceptional 2027 European Games.
